Perhaps I have been very lucky but on a challenging layout my American manufacturer's kit has not let me down.
My LGB Uintah and Sumpter mallets have had to have traction wheelsets put on to enable them to pull more than their own shadows topull a consist of 3 or 4 (30' or 40') cars up my gradients but I am sure that they will last even though there is quite a lot of strain on the gearbox.
But other than a Bachmann 'Annie' stripping a gear (Annies are prone to do this especially when under strain), I have obviously led a charmed life. I have run in rain, snow and left trains running non stop in hot sun for hours and the only thing that caused a problem was my less than perfect trackwork. This applies to USAT, Ariso and LGB.
My Bachmann 1:20.3 geared loco fleet just work and work and work and as long as I look after the lubrication do not seem to want to give up anyday soon.
My Accucraft locos do have problems on my gradients as they slip when going downhill and they really are only for show puffing around on their own.
No that I have said this and tempted fate, I know that everything will blow up in my face and only the LGB locos will trundle on with a supercilious smirk on their faces!
